Tradies In Business

Rats in the office? That’s one thing. But running your trade business with the wrong structure? That could cost you everything. Nic is joined by Dan and Tim from the Two Drunk Accountants to talk about something every trade business owner needs to get right: your business structure. Whether you're a sole trader just starting out or you're eyeing off a company setup, they break down the pros, cons, and hidden traps you need to...

What if the thing holding your business back isn’t your team, but how you’re leading them? Mick Scotney, ex-sparky now CEO & Founder of Awakened Business, shares what it really takes to build a team that runs without you doing all the thinking. He unpacks how to step out of the daily grind and into true leadership, from letting go of control to building systems that support growth. Mick scaled his business from two ...

From chemistry labs to high-vis on-site, Reece’s path into the trades was anything but typical. Now running one of Australia’s most unique trade businesses, Wardrobe Refractories, he’s navigating emergency breakdowns, tight compliance, and the challenge of building trust with casual crews. With a clear focus on shifting from self-employed to true business owner, Reece shares how systems, structure, and mindset are...

When Tyson Blanch bought the business, he knew it had potential, but he didn’t expect it to grow so fast. In this episode, Nic and Tyson talk through the journey from solo tradie to team leader, building a thriving workshop with multiple staff and more freedom at home. Tyson reflects on the power of asking for help early, leading with vulnerability, and learning to step back so others can step up. It’s an honest look at...

Finance broker Anthony Hopson from Urban Broker brings a unique perspective to money management, blending his background in banking with breathwork to help tradies shift how they think and feel about money. Nic chats with Anthony about why brokers can offer more flexible options for self-employed clients and how unspoken beliefs about money, often formed in childhood, can lead to stress, poor decisions or conflict. They talk about ...

What if the biggest thing holding your business back isn’t your pricing, team, or strategy.. but your mindset? Nic chats with mindset coach Di Russell about the real reason many tradies feel stuck even when they’re doing all the “right” things. Di shares her personal story of rebuilding after loss, running a multi-state business, and the lessons she’s learned about self-worth, identity, and success. Th...

After four decades in the trade, Miles knows a thing or two about building a business that lasts. Nic chats with Miles about his journey from apprentice to owner of Astley Electrical, and the lessons learned along the way, from business partner breakups to leading a values-driven family team. They unpack the systems, culture, and mindset that make up “The Astley Way,” and why professionalism, respect, and continual lear...

If you’ve ever felt like your brain’s a chaotic mix of too many ideas, unfinished tasks, and caffeine-fueled energy bursts, you’re not broken. You might just be wired differently. And that can be a massive advantage. Skye Waterson from Unconventional Organisation knows this first hand. Diagnosed with ADHD while completing her PhD, she’s since helped business owners across the world turn that chaos into clari...

Struggling to make sense of online marketing for your trade business? In this episode, Nic chats with Brandon Willington, from Where U, who breaks down his no-fluff approach to digital marketing using his 3Cs method—Clicks, Conversion, and Conversation. From setting up ads on Meta and Google to building landing pages that actually convert, Brandon shares practical tips for tradies who want real results without wasting cash. T...

Running a niche trade business comes with its own set of challenges, and Dan Boscolo from Timeless Staircases knows this firsthand. From starting as an apprentice to leading his own stair-building business, Dan shares how he grew his business while staying true to his craft. He also shares how support from the TIB community helped him tackle cash flow issues and why keeping his passion for skateboarding alive has been key to his wo...

Leadership can be tricky for trade business owners trying to guide their teams. Nic chats with Dani Ferrier, founder of Lead Like a Legend, about how to tackle leadership and tough conversations in the workplace. With years of experience in hospitality and wilderness guiding across 8 countries, Dani brings a fresh take on communication and leadership as she explains why we often avoid difficult conversations and shares her “P...

In just on 5 years a couple of chippy mates, Ed Ross and Dan Allen, have built a small empire in the workwear space. Perhaps more impressively, they've also set up and run their own mental health organisation that delivers free counselling and support to blue collar workers around the country. With more than $700,000 of free counselling services rolled out to over 4,000 tradies through their not-for-profit, TIACS (This Is A Convers...

This instalment of Real Tradie Guys is a cracker. Not only is our guest a Kiwi, a heavy diesel fitter, a West Australian and a TiB Tradiepreneur... he's also a competitive wood chopper! Ben started his business recently like so many other tradies, after deciding he wanted the freedom, flexibility and financial rewards of being self employed. Ben has done things different to many though and he shares his secrets to being profitable ...

Amii Jones epitomises many 'tradie wives'. She's incredibly humble about her role in her family and business and tends to understate how much she contributes to the smooth running of both. We had a fantastic chat to one of our rock star Drawing Board members about how she's managed to 'feel the fear and do it anyway', influence her husband to make positive change, overcome her self-doubt, harness her strengths, embrace the title of...